Breaking News English

Choosing pets over children is 'selfish,' says Pope

Pets and Children - Level 4

Pope Francis suggested that people who choose pets over children were selfish. He said substituting children for pets was a "denial" of parenthood. He added: "Today, we see a form of selfishness. We see that some people do not want to have a child.…They have dogs and cats that take the place of children." He encouraged couples to adopt children. He said: "Having a child is always a risk, but there is more risk in not having a child."

Pope Francis also spoke on this topic in 2014. He said choosing pets over children could harm our future. He said the emotional relationship with pets was "easier" than the "complex" relationship with children. Francis called the decline in birth rates a "demographic winter". Not everyone agreed with the Pope. The New York Post said Francis' name is from St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. It added: "Dogs are superior to most people."

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3    |     Speed 4

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Pets and Children - Level 5

Pope Francis suggested that people who choose pets over children were acting selfishly. He was addressing an audience in Rome and told them that substituting children for pets was a "denial" of parenthood. He added: "Today, we see a form of selfishness. We see that some people do not want to have a child. Sometimes they have just one, and that's it, but they have dogs and cats that take the place of children." Francis encouraged couples to adopt children. He said: "Having a child is always a risk, but there is more risk in not having a child."

Pope Francis has spoken out on this topic before. In 2014, he said choosing pets over children could harm our future. He called it "cultural degradation". He said the emotional relationship with pets was "easier" than the "complex" relationship with children. He called the downward trend in birth rates in many countries a "demographic winter". Not everyone agrees with the Pope's comments. The New York Post said Francis took his name from St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. It added: "Dogs.…make us better.…They are superior to most people."

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3    |     Speed 4

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Pets and Children - Level 6

The Pope has suggested that people who choose to have pets instead of children were acting selfishly. Pope Francis was addressing worshippers in Rome. He told his audience that substituting children for pets was a "denial of fatherhood and motherhood". He added: "Today, we see a form of selfishness. We see that some people do not want to have a child. Sometimes they have just one, and that's it, but they have dogs and cats that take the place of children." Pope Francis encouraged couples to adopt children. He said: "We must not be afraid to choose the path of adoption, to take the risk of welcoming children. Having a child is always a risk, but there is more risk in not having a child."

It is not the first time Pope Francis has spoken out on this topic. In 2014, he said choosing pets over children was detrimental to our future. He called it a "phenomenon of cultural degradation". He commented that the emotional relationship with pets was "easier" than the "complex" relationship with children. In continuing this theme, he called the downward trend in birth rates across many countries a "demographic winter". Not everyone agrees with the Pope's comments. The New York Post pointed out the contradiction of Francis taking his name from St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. It added: "Dogs make us more human. They make us better. Dogs, I think, are superior to most people."

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3    |     Speed 4

MORE

25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson